Medical Exam

Okay, I've already written something today, but I finished writing that while waiting for the doctor. What happens when I get into the doctor's office is worth writing.

First of all, I went to the doctor's office because to play any level of sport in France, you need a medical exam before hand, and a certificate saying you're fit enough to play.

The doctor comes out. He was a fairly young doctor, a little round, but still good-looking. We go into his office, and he locks the door behind him. We talk about what I need, and he says it's going to cost me 22€ for this piece of paper. Argh. But I absolutely need it to sign up for sports.

He then asks me to hop up on that long chair thing and take off my shirt. I stared at him blankly thinking it was maybe a language barrier. He looks back at me, holding the blood pressure arm-strap, and repeats himself, "enlève ta chemise". He even adds the motion, as if to say "are you too stupid to understand that I need you to take off your shirt in order for me to take your blood pressure?!". After a moment of me deciding is most certainly wasn't a miscommunication thing, I reservedly took off my shirt. He took my blood pressure as he stethoscoped my breathing. Really, I don't even see the necessity of removing someone's shirt when you can simply slip the stethoscope under it subtly like a Canadian doctor would do. He then allowed me to put my shirt back on, and requested that I do 30 squats as fast as I can while he counted. I imagine the look on my face must have conveyed something along the lines of "this guy is actually a doctor?!" It seemed like some scene from a bad porno movie called "Doctor's Orders". He then took my blood pressure again, and once more when my heart rate went down again. Then, when he asked what sport I played, he insulted me and called me macho. "Girls don't play soccer." Honestly. In the end, he decided I was in good enough condition to play sports. Thank heavens.

Well, it certaintly was an interesting trip chez le docteur!